The 2021 Ford Bronco will be more powerful than originally stated, Ford spokesperson Jiyan Cadiz confirmed to Motor Authority Tuesday.
The base 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-4 engine is now rated at 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque (with premium fuel), up from the 270 hp and 310 lb-ft quoted when the 2021 Bronco was unveiled last year.
Similarly, the optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost turbo V-6 has been bumped up to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, compared to the originally-stated 310 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque.
Those outputs are part of the reason why Ford didn’t put a V-8 in the Bronco. The smaller engines hit internal targets for horsepower, torque, and off-road capability, the automaker previously said, and it would have been more difficult to get a V-8 like Ford’s current Coyote 5.0-liter engine to meet emissions standards.
2021 Ford Bronco
Plus, there’s always the aftermarket. Shortly after the Bronco was unveiled, Hennessey announced a 758-hp supercharged V-8 version with a six-figure price tag.
As a refresher, the Bronco gets standard part-time four-wheel drive, with a full-time system available on higher trim levels. Transmission choices include a 7-speed manual and 10-speed automatic. Ford initially didn’t let customers order the manual transmission with the Sasquatch package (which maxes out off-road capability), but quickly changed that due to feedback from reservation holders.
Bronco deliveries were delayed by a few months due to coronavirus-related supplier issues, but are expected to start this summer, with manual Sasquatch models following in 2022.
A higher-performance version, possibly called Raptor or Warthog, is also on the way, likely as a 2022 or 2023 model. It will likely use V-6 power, possibly the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 from the Explorer ST, or the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 from the Ford F-150 Raptor and Limited.
